Christmas is so close we can practically taste it – literally, the mulled wine is flowing, our hands are full of mince pies, and we’re feeling festive. But where do we turn when as Christmassy as we feel, Michael Buble is just not nearly noisy enough to suit our musical taste? No worries – we’re here to keep you feeling more sweet than bitter this holiday season, with our top ten alternative Christmas cuts.

1. All I Want For Christmas Is You – My Chemical Romance
Mariah Carey might have the mainstream Christmas tune market on lock, but anyone who’s ever had an emo phase has Gerard Way’s quavering “IIIIIIII…. Don’t want a lot for Christmas….” ingrained in their minds so deeply that we’ve pretty much forgotten Mariah exists.

2. Yule Shoot Your Eye Out – Fall Out Boy
The jingle-bell opening hardly prepares you for the onslaught of depressing lyrics Patrick Stump is about to sling our way. YSYEO is bittersweet Christmas to a T, whilst being catchy enough to nestle comfortably into any festive playlist.

3. Into The Unknown – Panic! At The Disco
Let It Go has had five years at the top, Elsa on her mountaintop ringing out all winter long. But this year, Brendon Urie’s recording of Frozen 2’s ethereal Elsa banger is a worthy contender to take its place.

4. Alone This Holiday – The Used
If you could rely on anyone to write an anthemically sad Christmas song it would definitely have to be Bert Mccracken and co. His characteristically pained vocals and swaying instrumentation are the prime pair for anyone who isn’t having a fab holiday season.

5. Fairytale Of New York – Creeper
One of the most incomparably iconic Christmas songs of all time, and Creeper most certainly do it justice. Will Gould’s melancholy voice set against Hannah Greenwood’s gorgeous Kirsty Maccoll tribute and an instrumental that simultaneously sticks to the original and throws in the Creeper twist make this a perfect holiday banger.

6. Happy Holidays, You Bastard – Blink-182
It’s under a minute long but it’s by far one of the greatest Christmas songs ever written – Blink-182’s pacey, hilarious ode to Christmas day celebrations is festive in its realness.

7. Merry Christmas (Kiss My Ass) – All Time Low
Alex Gaskarth’s penchant for lyrics that double as savage, sarcastic takedowns doesn’t shine any brighter anywhere except in Merry Christmas (Kiss My Ass). The snarky lyrics paired with the upbeat music makes the track even more amazingly bitter.

8. Nothing For Christmas – New Found Glory
NFG hold back a bit for Nothing For Christmas, a delightful selection of festive images that seem tinged with a bit of sadness – but despite sounding a little sad, it’s actually one of the sweetest songs you’ll hear. NFG’s answer to All I Want For Christmas Is You, with a healthy side serving of gang vocals.

9. Oh Noel – I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME
Stripped back to just piano and vocal, Dallon Weekes shows us how to get back to basics in the most gorgeous way this Christmas. He’s got stacks of Christmas tunes in his arsenal, even a new Christmas EP, but there’s something especially captivating about Oh Noel.

10. December – Neck Deep
Thanks to this song, we can hazard a guess that a ballroom floor and a perfect house with a rose-red door were on the Christmas list of a girl who broke Ben Barlow’s heart…